Understanding Hormonal Influence on Calcium Levels and Bone Loss
- Khristina Maureen
- Jun 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 24
Calcium gets all the glory for bone health. But your teeth?
They depend on it, too.
Teeth may not technically be bones, but they rely on a strong, stable jawbone to stay anchored where they belong.
Here’s the part most people don’t realize:
When your body is low on calcium or starts reallocating it to other priorities, it doesn’t just affect your spine or hips. It can appear as bone loss in your jaw, often first detected on dental X-rays.
So yes, calcium and bone loss aren’t just orthopedic issues.
They’re oral health issues, too.
Calcium and Bone Loss: How PTH and Calcitonin Keep the Balance
Your calcium status isn’t just about what you eat.
It’s about what your hormones do with it.
Two hormones run this show: Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and Calcitonin.
Think of them as your body’s internal calcium thermostat.
What Is Calcitonin?
Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid’s C-cells.
Its role is protective. When blood calcium levels rise too high, calcitonin helps:
Move calcium into bone for storage
Reduce how much calcium the kidneys reabsorb
In other words: “We’re good. Let’s store this safely.”
What About PTH?
Produced by four tiny parathyroid glands, PTH is released when blood calcium drops too low.
It tells your body to:
Pull calcium from bones
Hold onto calcium in the kidneys
Absorb more from food, with help from activated vitamin D (calcitriol)
PTH’s priority is keeping blood calcium stable, even if that means borrowing from your bones to do it. (Source)
That’s helpful short-term.
Problematic long-term.
Especially for jawbone density.
When the Thermostat Breaks: A Real-Life Example
One of my patients had part of her parathyroid glands removed due to hyperparathyroidism,
a condition where the body constantly signals, “We need more calcium!” even when levels are already adequate.
Her body kept pulling calcium from bone to satisfy that signal.
Over time, she developed osteoporosis.
And on her dental X-rays? Clear signs of jawbone loss.
No amount of brushing, flossing, or “doing everything right” could fix it, because the issue wasn’t hygiene.
It was hormonal signaling.
Why I DIG Deeper Than Calcium Alone
Supporting calcium balance isn’t just about intake.
It's about how your body processes it.
That’s where the DIG framework comes in:
Digestion
If stomach acid is low or digestion is impaired, calcium and other minerals won’t absorb properly, no matter how “clean” your diet is.
Inflammation
Chronic stress, blood sugar swings, infections, or gut imbalances can disrupt hormone signaling, including the delicate PTH–calcitonin balance.
Genes
Your genetic blueprint influences how you regulate calcium, activate vitamin D, and maintain bone strength, but lifestyle and environment determine how those genes express.
When calcium balance is off, it’s rarely one isolated issue.
It's a systems issue.
Real Talk & Final Bite: Don’t Blame the Toothpaste
If your calcium-regulating hormones are out of sync, switching toothpaste or adding more spinach won’t solve the problem.
This runs deeper, into your thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, reproductive hormones, gut health, and how your body manages minerals around the clock.
When your internal calcium “thermostat” is dysregulated, jawbone density can decline, affecting gum support, tooth stability, and long-term oral health, even if you brush twice a day.
So yes, floss like a boss.
But if something feels off, it’s time to DIG deeper.
Your body might be trying to tell you something.
-Khristina Maureen
Your Functional Nutrition Ally
Ready to DIG Deeper?
Strong bones, strong teeth, smarter hormones.
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